INDIVIDUAL PROMPT: Religion has been a staple of humanity since its inception. Nearly all human cultures that have been discovered have had some religious idea present within their societies. Of the things that separate humans from other animals, the idea of a higher presence (in whatever form that may be) seems to be prominent. Suspend your individual belief for a second and reflect on your knowledge of religion in general and your understanding of the purpose it holds, both personally and beyond, then please address the following question:

Why do you think human cultures and societies have had a need for religion? Please explain as detailed as possible.
And then choose one of the following questions to

After reading Chapter 4, why do you think monotheist (a single god) religions are the most popular and influential in the world?
Why do you think there are profound differences in the faiths of Western cultures (European, Americas, etc.) and Eastern cultures (India, China, Japan, etc.)?